Assessing Diego Costa's Development at Chelsea and Importance to Spain
Diego Costa has proved quite the player for Chelsea this season.
Never far from the headlines, he's given Jose Mourinho's side the very thing they have craved since Didier Drogba's departure in 2012: goals.
For too long Chelsea had persevered with Fernando Torres in the hope he would rediscover that scoring touch, but he never quite did.
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Costa's changed the conversation now.
In 34 appearances, the Spanish international from Brazil has scored 19 goals in Chelsea colours. Had it not been for suspensions and his ongoing struggles with his hamstrings, it would certainly be more.
Costa's debut campaign at Stamford Bridge has been a stop-start one, so that he leads the Premier League scoring charts alongside Harry Kane is all the more remarkable.
He's a striker, so of course Costa's goal return is always going to be the focus. When we consider his development at Chelsea this term, his tally shows us why Mourinho was so quick to make his move for him last summer.
Costa hasn't scored in any other competition outside of the league, though, but that won't concern his manager, nor will it his team-mates.
The No. 19 has made enough of an impact even when not finding himself on the scoresheet that his presence alone has strengthened Chelsea.
What will be of a concern for Mourinho is the continued focus on Costa's temperament and the reputation that seems to follow him.
There have been bookings for simulation that Costa will rightly feel hard done with, not to mention a number of penalty claims that have been denied.
Then there is the notion he is a player who dabbles all too often in the dark arts—and it's worked against him, notably with that three-game suspension for stamping on Liverpool's Emre Can in Janaury's Capital One Cup semi-final.
Chelsea's failed attempt to have the ban rescinded tells us everything about how they viewed the incident.
It was a different view from Liverpool and others in football, which is concerning for Costa as incidents like that with Can are immediately making headlines.
He was running away from the player in pursuit of the ball, so there's an argument to suggest that, without eyes on Can, he couldn't see where his leg was.
But this is Costa, and excuses such as that do not carry much weight.
It's all about perception.
He's showing signs of attempting to improve that image, however, which is the biggest area of focus when we consider how far he has come in English football.
Costa will also develop his game, but it's his perceived aggression and nasty streak that are the enemy.
Only this week in Marca (via Charles Perrin in the Express), he explained how he is beginning to get to grips with life in England.
"I always get hit but I don't complain. [Defenders in England] tackle strong but on top of it, they don't call the foul while in Spain they did.
"Some defenders try to bring you out of games but more and more, I control myself more and try to play my game."
How much of that Costa actually believes remains to be seen, but the important thing is that he is talking about it. Like his goals have done for Chelsea, he's attempting to change the focus.
It's good news for club and country.
With just one goal in seven appearances for Spain, Costa's international career isn't going the same way of his club.
It doesn't mean he's any less important, however.
Like we've seen with Barcelona in recent times, the Spanish national team are having to adapt their style of play. The approach that won them three successive competitions in 2008, 2010 and 2012 is dated.
Their defence of the World Cup last summer was the final nail in the coffin, and Vicente del Bosque is rebuilding.
To quote many a manager, they're in transition, and to come through that successfully, the experiments with false nines are out the door. Spain need a front man with real presence, and Costa is just that.
Indeed, Del Bosque knew that fact a while back, which is why he pushed the boat out to convince Costa his international future was as a Spaniard and not with Brazil.
It just hasn't gone to plan yet.
Fitness has played a part in that—he was forced out of the latest Spain squad with injury—as has his move to England. Costa's playing catch-up in that regard, and Spain need him to get up to speed. Quickly.
Like at Chelsea, he will be the lynchpin of the Spanish attack. If he mirrors his prolific nature in front of goal at club level with Spain, we'll be talking about La Roja as contenders for major honours once more.
That's the talent of Costa.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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